Apollodorus of Damascus

Apollodorus of Damascus (fl. AD 98–125c.). Damascus-born, he became architect to Emperor Trajan (98–117), and is credited with most of the Imperial buildings of the latter's reign, including the thermae and forum of Trajan, the enormous Ulpian basilica, Trajan's column, and the nearby market complex. He seems to have given the Roman thermae their definitive form, was an important influence on the Roman Imperial style, and brought a sound knowledge of advanced constructional techniques to bear on his various projects (not least of which was the huge bridge over the fast-flowing Danube, near Turnu Severin, Romania, constructed in c.104). It would be tempting to connect Apollodorus with the building of the Pantheon and the Villa Adriana at Tivoli, in the reign of Hadrian (117–38), but the evidence is lacking. He was the author of several technical treatises, now lost, and enjoyed a considerable reputation in his lifetime, although his disagreements with Hadrian over the design of the Temple of Venus and Rome may have cost him his life.

Bibliography

W. MacDonald (1965–86); Ward-Perkins (1981, 1986)

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Apollodorus of Damascus

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.

Copyright The Columbia University Press

Apollodorus of Damascus, Roman architect and engineer, fl. late 1st to early 2d cent. AD, b. Syria. Apollodorus was responsible for nearly all buildings designed under the emperor Trajan, for whom he was official architect. Known for his use of symmetry and axial organization, Apollodorus produced his greatest achievement in the Forum of Trajan (see forum) and Trajan's Column (see Roman art). His treatise Engines of War survives.

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